Rail-joint.



W. MAcQUAID.

,mm mm.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-3.1917.

Patented 001:. 16,1917,

Snow Wow WMac Gwen/d WILLIAM MACQUAID, 0F ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

Application filed. August 3, 1917. Serial No. 184,283.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM MAOQUAID, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is an improvement in rail joints and has for one of its objects to provide a simple and inexpensive construction wherein the meeting ends of two rails are secured to a tie in a novel manner so as to securely maintain said rails in their proper positions.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the meeting ends of two rails constructed and joined in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the end of one rail.

Fig. 4- is a similar View of the locking key.

In the drawing, the numerals 5 indicate the meeting ends of two rails adapted to be mounted upon a tie 6 and each including the usual tread 7, web 8 and base 9.

Each rail 5 has its end cut away to provide longitudinally tapered openings or slots 10 in the tread and base thereof, the side walls of said slots diverging inwardly from the end of the rail so that the narrowest portions of said slots will be at the outer ends thereof.

When adjacent ends of two rails so constructed are placed together upon a tie, the slots 10 combine to form an opening restricted at its central portion and widening toward the ends thereof.

This opening is adapted to receive a locking member or key 11 preferably in the form of a block of a length and depth substantially equal to that of said opening and having its sides provided with opposed tapering surfaces 12 converging at the center of the block where the same has its minimum thickness. These surfaces 12 snugly fit the sides of the slots 10 when the key is in locking position and in order to secure the same in such position said block has depending from the bottom thereof a pair of spikes or other fastening elements 13 that are adapted to enter the tie 6 as the key is driven into the opening formed by the slots 10. From this description it will be apparent that the invention provides a simple and efficient device for locking the meeting ends of two rails together and securing the same to a tie.

What is claimed is 1-- The combination with the meeting ends of two rails having tapering slots therein combining to form an opening having angular sides; of a locking key mounted in said opening and having its sides provided with opposed tapering surfaces adapted to snugly fit the sides of said opening, and fastening elements carried by said key and adapted to enter a tie when said key is driven into said opening.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM MACQUAID. Witnesses WM. MAOQUAID, J12, J. MACQUAID.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

